Duration of Heightened Ischemic Stroke Risk After Acute Myocardial Infarction

A Difficult Case of Cardio-Cerebral Infarction Syndrome With Left Ventricular Thrombus

Left ventricular thrombus is a major complication following myocardial infarction, particularly in patients with anterior myocardial infarction or dilated cardiomyopathies regardless of coronary reperfusion therapy. Embolization of mural thrombus is one of the major causes of large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke. A combination therapy of antiplatelet (single or dual antiplatelet) and anticoagulant is mandatory in the management of myocardial infarction and left ventricular thrombus with or without stroke. To our knowledge, there are no guidelines on the optimal regimen (dual or triple therapies) and timing of administration in cases of cardio-cerebral infarction. It is difficult for clinicians to balance the risks of intracranial hemorrhage and coronary stent thrombosis. Here, we describe the case of a gentleman who had recently undergone coronary intervention and presented with ischemic stroke and left ventricular thrombus, along with the management challenges in this scenario.

Post-stroke rehabilitation in the peri-pandemic COVID-19 era

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which arose in late 2019, caused extensive destruction, impacting a substantial proportion of the worldwide population and leading to millions of deaths. Although COVID-19 is mainly linked to respiratory and pulmonary complications, it has the potential to affect neurologic structures as well. Neurological involvement may manifest as minimal and reversible; however, a notable proportion of cases have exhibited pronounced neurological consequences, such as strokes. Endothelial inflammation, hypercoagulation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system alterations, and cardiogenic embolism are the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke under COVID-19 circumstances. Physical activity and exercise have improved several aspects of post-stroke recovery, including cardiovascular health, walking capacity, and upper limb strength. They are commonly used to assist stroke survivors in overcoming their motor restrictions. Furthermore, stroke rehabilitation can incorporate a range of specific techniques, including body-weight-supported treadmill applications, constraint-induced movement therapy, robotic rehabilitation interventions, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and prism adaptation training. Under pandemic conditions, there were several barriers to neurological rehabilitation. The most significant of these were individual's fear of infection, which caused them to postpone their rehabilitation applications and rehabilitation areas being converted into COVID-19 units. The primary emphasis had turned to COVID-19 treatment. Several valuable data and views were gained in reorganizing rehabilitation during the pandemic, contributing to establishing future views in this regard.

The Brain-Heart Axis: Neuroinflammatory Interactions in Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The role of neuroimmune modulation and inflammation in cardiovascular disease has been historically underappreciated. Physiological connections between the heart and brain, termed the heart-brain axis (HBA), are bidirectional, occur through a complex network of autonomic nerves/hormones and cytokines, and play important roles in common disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

At the molecular level, advances in the past two decades reveal complex crosstalk mediated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, the renin-angiotensin aldosterone and hypothalamus-pituitary axes, microRNA, and cytokines. Afferent pathways amplify proinflammatory signals via the hypothalamus and brainstem to the periphery, promoting neurogenic inflammation. At the organ level, while stress-mediated cardiomyopathy is the prototypical disorder of the HBA, cardiac dysfunction can result from a myriad of neurologic insults including stroke and spinal injury. Atrial fibrillation is not necessarily a causative factor for cardioembolic stroke, but a manifestation of an abnormal atrial substrate, which can lead to the development of stroke independent of AF. Central and peripheral neurogenic proinflammatory factors have major roles in the HBA, manifesting as complex bi-directional relationships in common conditions such as stroke, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy.

The Incidence of Cardiovascular Events in Small Versus Large Ischemic Stroke; A Three-Year Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral ischemia and coronary artery disease (CAD), the major leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, are pathophysiologically interrelated. Cerebral ischemic events are categorized as large or small vessels disease. The current study compares the factors related to CAD events incidence following ischemic large versus small disease CVA.

METHOD

The current cohort study was conducted on 225 patients with ischemic stroke in two groups of large (n=75) and small (n=150) vessel disease during 2018-19. The patients' demographic, medical, and clinical characteristics were recruited. They were followed for three years regarding the incidence of CAD events, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), unstable angina (UA), and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Data about the coronary angiography, computed tomography angiography (CTA), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and the therapeutic approach were gathered.

RESULTS

There were insignificant differences between the patients with small versus large vessels CVA in terms of ACS incidence (P-value=0.105), type of the events (P-value=0.836), angiographic (P-value=0.671), SPECT (P-value=0.99) and CTA findings (P-value>0.99) and approached CAD (P-value=0.728). Cox regression assessments revealed an increased risk of CAD events due to large versus small vessels disease after adjustments for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, re-stroke, and the previous history of IHD (HR=2.005, 95%CI: 1.093-2.988, P-value=0.021).

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of this study, large-vessel involvement in an ischemic stroke was associated with more than a two-fold increase in the three-year probability of ischemic heart disease incidencet.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of implementing polygenic risk score in a workplace cardiovascular disease prevention program

Background

Polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease (CAD-PRS) improves precision in assessing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and is cost-effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases in a health system and may be cost-effective in other settings and prevention programs such as workplace cardiovascular prevention programs. Workplaces provide a conducitve environment for cardiovascular prevention interventions, but the cost-effectiveness of CAD-PRS in a workplace setting remains unknown. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of integrating CAD-PRS in a workplace cardiovascular disease prevention program compared to the standard cardiovascular workplace program without CAD-PRS and no-workplace prevention program.

Methods

We developed a cohort simulation model to project health benefits (quality-adjusted life years gained) and costs over a period of 5 years in a cohort of employees with a mean age of 50 years. The model health states reflected the risk of disease (coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke) and statin prevention therapy side effects (diabetes, hemorrhagic stroke, and myopathy). We considered medical and lost productivity costs. Data were obtained from the literature, and the analysis was performed from a self-insured employer perspective with future costs and quality-adjusted life years discounted at 3% annually. Uncertainty in model parameter inputs was assessed using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Three programs were compared: (1) a workplace cardiovascular program that integrated CAD-PRS with the pooled cohort equation-a standard of care for assessing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CardioriskSCORE); (2) a workplace cardiovascular prevention program without CAD-PRS (Standard-WHP); and (3) no-workplace health program (No-WHP). The main outcomes were total costs (US $2019), incremental costs, incremental quality-adjusted life years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Results

CardioriskSCORE lowered employer costs ($53 and $575) and improved employee quality-adjusted life years (0.001 and 0.005) per employee screened compared to Standard-WHP and No-WHP, respectively. The effectiveness of statin prevention therapy, employees' baseline cardiovascular risk, the proportion of employees that enrolled in the program, and statin adherence had the largest effect size on the incremental net monetary benefit. However, despite the variation in parameter input values, base case results remained robust.

Conclusion

Polygenic testing in a workplace cardiovascular prevention program improves employees' quality of life and simultaneously lowers health costs and productivity monetary loss for employers.

Coronavirus disease 2019 and acute cerebrovascular events: a comprehensive overview

Since the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been increasing evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with acute cerebrovascular events such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral venous thrombosis. Although the mechanism of cerebrovascular complications among COVID-19 patients has not been adequately elucidated, the hypercoagulable state, excessive inflammation and ACE-2-associated alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system after SARS-CoV-2 infection probably play an essential role. In this overview, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to acute cerebrovascular events and review the characteristics of COVID-19-related acute cerebrovascular events cases and treatment options available worldwide.

Diagnosis and Management of Cardioembolic Stroke

OBJECTIVE

Cardioembolic stroke accounts for nearly 30% of ischemic strokes. Prompt diagnosis of the underlying mechanism may improve secondary prevention strategies. This article reviews recent randomized trials, observational studies, case reports, and guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of cardioembolic stroke.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Several pathologies can lead to cardioembolic stroke, including atrial fibrillation, aortic arch atheroma, patent foramen ovale, left ventricular dysfunction, and many others. Secondary stroke prevention strategies differ across these heterogeneous mechanisms. In addition to medical treatment advances such as the use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation, surgical treatments such as closure of patent foramen ovale have been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in select patients. Furthermore, left atrial appendage occlusion is a promising strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation who are candidates for short-term oral anticoagulation therapy but not long-term oral anticoagulation therapy.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

A thorough diagnostic evaluation is essential to determine cardioembolic causes of stroke. In addition to risk factor management and lifestyle modifications, identification and targeting of the underlying cardioembolic stroke mechanisms will lead to improved stroke prevention strategies in patients with cardioembolic stroke.

Cross-species single-cell comparison of systemic and cardiac inflammatory responses after cardiac injury

The immune system coordinates the response to cardiac injury and is known to control regenerative and fibrotic scar outcomes in the heart and subsequent chronic low-grade inflammation associated with heart failure. Here we profiled the inflammatory response to heart injury using single cell transcriptomics to compare and contrast two experimental models with disparate outcomes. We used adult mice, which like humans lack the ability to fully recover and zebrafish which spontaneously regenerate after heart injury. The extracardiac reaction to cardiomyocyte necrosis was also interrogated to assess the specific peripheral tissue and immune cell reaction to chronic stress. Cardiac macrophages are known to play a critical role in determining tissue homeostasis by healing versus scarring. We identified distinct transcriptional clusters of monocytes/macrophages in each species and found analogous pairs in zebrafish and mice. However, the reaction to myocardial injury was largely disparate between mice and zebrafish. The dichotomous response to heart damage between the mammalian and zebrafish monocytes/macrophages may underlie the impaired regenerative process in mice, representing a future therapeutic target.

Recurrence and Mortality Risks in Patients with First Incident Acute Stroke or Myocardial Infarction: A Longitudinal Study Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database

Background: We aimed to identify the long-term risk of recurrence and mortality in patients who experienced acute ischemic stroke (AIS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or acute hemorrhagic stroke (AHS) using a population-level database. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adults aged ≥55 years diagnosed with AIS, AMI, and AHS in the National Health Insurance Service Database between 2004 and 2007. The target outcomes were secondary AIS, AMI, AHS, and all-cause mortality. Predetermined covariates, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, were adjusted. Results: We included 151,181, 49,077, and 41,636 patients in the AIS, AHS, and AMI groups, respectively. The AMI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.318; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.306−0.330; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 0.489; 95% CI, 0.472−0.506; p < 0.001) groups had a significantly lower risk of developing secondary AIS than the AIS group. The risk of developing secondary AMI was significantly lower in the AMI (aHR, 0.388; 95% CI, 0.348−0.433; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 0.711; 95% CI, 0.640−0.790; p < 0.001) groups than in the AIS group. Initial AHS was a decisive risk factor for secondary AHS (aHR, 8.546; 95% CI, 8.218−8.887; p < 0.001). The AMI (aHR, 1.436; 95% CI, 1.412−1.461; p < 0.001) and AHS (aHR, 1.328; 95% CI, 1.309−1.348; p < 0.001) groups were associated with a significantly higher risk of long-term mortality than the AIS group. Conclusion: Our results elucidated that initial AIS was a significant risk factor for recurrent AIS and AMI; initial AHS was a decisive risk factor for developing secondary AHS. Further, AMI and AHS were more closely related to long-term mortality than AIS.

Association of CHA2DS2-VASc Score with Long-Term Incidence of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Stroke after Myocardial Infarction

The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a reliable tool used to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Few tools exist for the prediction of new-onset AF (NOAF) after myocardial infarction (MI) and its relation to IS. We studied the usefulness of CHA2DS2-VASc in predicting NOAF and IS in a long-term follow-up after MI. Consecutive MI patients without baseline AF (n = 70,922; mean age: 68.2 years), discharged from 20 hospitals in Finland during 2005−2018, were retrospectively studied using national registries. The outcomes of interest after discharge were NOAF- and IS-assessed with competing risk analyses at one and ten years. The median follow-up was 4.2 years. The median baseline CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3 (IQR 2−5). The likelihood of both NOAF and NOAF-related IS increased stepwise with this score at one and ten years (all p < 0.0001). The one-year-adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) was 4.03 (CI 3.68−4.42) for NOAF in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥6 points. The cumulative incidence of IS was 15.2% in patients with NOAF vs. 6.2% in patients without AF at 10 years after MI (adj. sHR 2.12; CI 1.98−2.28; p < 0.0001). Coronary artery bypass surgery was associated with a higher NOAF incidence compared to percutaneous coronary intervention (adj. sHR 1.87; CI 1.65−2.13; p < 0.0001 one year after MI). The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a simple tool used to estimate the long-term risk of NOAF and IS after MI in patients without baseline AF. Coronary bypass surgery is associated with an increased NOAF incidence after MI.

Concurrent acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke: Case reports and literature review

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are the main causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Although reperfusion therapy is the most effective treatment for the two diseases, it is still a great challenge for treating the two diseases at the same time. Here we share 2 cases: one patient was hospitalized for AMI, developed AIS after receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and suffered from cardiac rupture after alteplase thrombolytic therapy. The other patient was admitted for AIS, who had sudden chest pain during the thrombolytic process of alteplase. Considering AMI, emergency PCI was performed, and he was finally discharged.

PCSK9 and Other Metabolic Targets to Counteract Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Visceral Vascular Surgery

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury complicates both unpredictable events (myocardial infarction and stroke) as well as surgically-induced ones when transient clampage of major vessels is needed. Although the main cause of damage is attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, the use of antioxidant compounds for protection gave poor results when challenged in clinics. More recently, there is an assumption that, in humans, profound metabolic changes may prevail in driving I/R injury. In the present work, we narrowed the field of search to I/R injury in the heart/brain/kidney axis in acute myocardial infarction, major vascular surgery, and to the current practice of protection in both settings; then, to help the definition of novel strategies to be translated clinically, the most promising metabolic targets with their modulatory compounds—when available—and new preclinical strategies against I/R injury are described. The consideration arisen from the broad range of studies we have reviewed will help to define novel therapeutic approaches to ensure mitochondrial protection, when I/R events are predictable, and to cope with I/R injury, when it occurs unexpectedly.

Integrating a Polygenic Risk Score for Coronary Artery Disease as a Risk-Enhancing Factor in the Pooled Cohort Equation: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Study

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, yet a significant proportion of adults at high risk remain undetected by standard screening practices. Polygenic risk score for coronary artery disease (CAD‐PRS) improves precision in determining the 10‐year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease but health benefits and health care costs associated with CAD‐PRS are unknown. We examined the cost‐effectiveness of including CAD‐PRS as a risk‐enhancing factor in the pooled cohort equation (PCE)—the standard of care for determining the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—versus PCE alone.

Methods and Results

We applied a Markov model on a cohort of 40‐year‐old individuals with borderline or intermediate 10‐year risk (5% to <20%) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to identify those in the top quintile of the CAD‐PRS distribution who are at high risk and eligible for statin prevention therapy. Health outcomes examined included coronary artery disease (CAD; ie, myocardial infarction) and ischemic stroke. The model projected medical costs (2019 US$) of screening for CAD, statin prevention therapy, treatment, and monitoring patients living with CAD or ischemic stroke and quality‐adjusted life‐years for PCE+CAD‐PRS versus PCE alone. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses and scenario analyses were performed to examine uncertainty in parameter inputs. PCE+CAD‐PRS was dominant compared with PCE alone in the 5‐ and 10‐year time horizons. We found that, respectively, PCE+CAD‐PRS had 0.003 and 0.011 higher mean quality‐adjusted life‐years and $40 and $181 lower mean costs per person screened, with 29 and 50 fewer events of CAD and ischemic stroke in a cohort of 10 000 individuals compared with PCE alone. The risk of developing CAD, the effectiveness of statin prevention therapy, and the cost of treating CAD had the largest impact on the cost per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained. However, this cost remained below the $50 000 willingness‐to‐pay threshold except when the annual risk of developing CAD was <0.006 in the 5‐year time horizon. Results from Monte Carlo simulation indicated that PCE+CAD‐PRS would be cost‐effective. with the probability of 94% and 99% at $50 000 willingness‐to‐pay threshold in the 5‐ and 10‐year time horizon, respectively.

Conclusions

Implementing CAD‐PRS as a risk‐enhancing factor in the PCE to determine the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease reduced the mean cost per individual, improved quality‐adjusted life‐years, and averted future events of CAD and ischemic stroke when compared with PCE alone.

Cryptogenic Stroke and Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: Risk Factors and Approaches for Detection of Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a problem worldwide because of its high mortality and disability rates. Almost 90% of strokes are ischemic, and more than half of the deaths are caused by an ischemic stroke. Most risk factors for stroke are manageable so that it can be avoided with proper prevention. Despite the success in determining the causes of stroke in recent years, selectively, the "culprit" causing stroke remains unsolved. In such cases, a diagnosis of undetermined etiology (cryptogenic stroke) or embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is generated, resulting the prevention of a recurrent cerebrovascular occurrence impossible. Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be a cause of stroke by causing blood clots in the chambers of the heart.

PURPOSE

The aim was to determine the optimal method of heart rate monitoring in patients with ischemic stroke, as methods and approaches for detecting AF are very diverse, but there is still no single opinion, which would be universal.

PROCEDURES

In our review, we consider epidemiology, risk factors for the stroke of undetermined etiology, as well as analytical methods for detecting heart rhythm disturbances in this category of patients.

FINDINGS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is detected by thorough monitoring of heart rate of patients with cryptogenic stroke and ESUS can be diagnosed in up to 46% of patients. .

CONCLUSION

After AF detection, consideration should be given to prescribing anticoagulants, instead of antiplatelet agents, for the secondary prevention of stroke.

Heart-Brain Relationship in Stroke

The patient presenting with stroke often has cardiac-related risk factors which may be involved in the mechanism of the stroke. The diagnostic assessment is predicated on recognition of this potential relationship. Naturally, an accurate history is of utmost importance in discerning a possible cause and effect relationship. The EKG is obviously an important clue as well as it allows immediate assessment for possible cardiac arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, for possible acute ischemic changes reflective of myocardial ischemia, or there may be indirect factors such as the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, typically seen with longstanding hypertension, which could be indicative of a hypertensive mechanism for a patient presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage. For all presentations in the emergency room, the vital signs are important. An elevated body temperature in a patient presenting with acute stroke raises concern about possible infective endocarditis. An irregular-irregular pulse is an indicator of atrial fibrillation. A markedly elevated blood pressure is not uncommon in both the acute ischemic and acute hemorrhagic stroke setting. One tends to focus on possible cardioembolic stroke if there is the sudden onset of maximum neurological deficit versus the stepwise progression more characteristic of thrombotic stroke. Because of the more sudden loss of vascular supply with embolic occlusion, seizure or syncope at onset tends to be supportive of this mechanism. Different vascular territory involvement on neuroimaging is also a potential indicator of cardioembolic stroke. Identification of a cardiogenic source of embolus in such a setting certainly elevates this mechanism in the differential. There have been major advances in management of acute cerebrovascular disease in recent decades, such as thrombolytic therapy and endovascular thrombectomy, which have somewhat paralleled the advances made in cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the successful limitation of myocardial damage in acute coronary syndrome, with intervention, does not necessarily mirror a similar salutary effect on functional outcome with cerebral infarction. The heart can also affect the brain from a cerebral perfusion standpoint. Transient arrhythmias can result in syncope, while cardiac arrest can result in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Cardiogenic dementia has been identified as a mechanism of cognitive impairment associated with severe cardiac failure. Structural cardiac abnormalities can also play a role in brain insult, and this can include tumors, such as atrial myxoma, patent foramen ovale, with the potential for paradoxical cerebral embolism, and cardiomyopathies, such as Takotsubo, can be associated with precipitous cardioembolic events.

Cerebral derailment after myocardial infarct: mechanisms and effects of the signaling from the ischemic heart to brain

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death among ischemic heart diseases and is associated with several long-term cardiovascular complications, such as angina, re-infarction, arrhythmias, and heart failure. However, MI is frequently accompanied by non-cardiovascular multiple comorbidities, including brain disorders such as stroke, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Accumulating experimental and clinical evidence suggests a causal relationship between MI and stroke, but the precise underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Indeed, the risk of stroke remains a current challenge in patients with MI, in spite of the improvement of medical treatment among this patient population has reduced the risk of stroke. In this review, the effects of the signaling from the ischemic heart to the brain, such as neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and neurogenesis, and the possible actors mediating these effects, such as systemic inflammation, immunoresponse, extracellular vesicles, and microRNAs, are discussed.

Cardiac mechanics and incident ischemic stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study

Recent evidence indicates that our understanding of the relationship between cardiac function and ischemic stroke remains incomplete. The Cardiovascular Health Study enrolled community-dwelling adults ≥ 65 years old. We included participants with speckle-tracking data from digitized baseline study echocardiograms. Exposures were left atrial reservoir strain (primary), left ventricular longitudinal strain, left ventricular early diastolic strain rate, septal e’ velocity, and lateral e’ velocity. The primary outcome was incident ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for demographics, image quality, and risk factors including left ventricular ejection fraction and incident atrial fibrillation. Among 4,000 participants in our analysis, lower (worse) left atrial reservoir strain was associated with incident ischemic stroke (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.14; 95% CI 1.04–25). All secondary exposure variables were significantly associated with the outcome. Left atrial reservoir strain was associated with cardioembolic stroke (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.42; 95% CI 1.21–1.67) and cardioembolic stroke related to incident atrial fibrillation (HR per SD absolute decrease, 1.60; 1.32–1.95). Myocardial dysfunction that can ultimately lead to stroke may be identifiable at an early stage. This highlights opportunities to identify cerebrovascular risk earlier and improve stroke prevention via therapies for early myocardial dysfunction.

A Mendelian randomization analysis of the relationship between cardioembolic risk factors and ischemic stroke

Observational studies have shown that several risk factors are associated with cardioembolic stroke. However, whether such associations reflect causality remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether established and provisional cardioembolic risk factors are causally associated with cardioembolic stroke. Genetic instruments for atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), electrocardiogram (ECG) indices and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) were obtained from large genetic consortiums. Summarized data of ischemic stroke and its subtypes were extracted from the MEGASTROKE consortium. Causal estimates were calculated by applying inverse-variance weighted analysis, weighted median analysis, simple median analysis and Mendelian randomization (MR)-Egger regression. Genetically predicted AF was significantly associated with higher odds of ischemic stroke (odds ratio (OR): 1.20, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.16-1.24, P = 6.53 × 10^-30) and cardioembolic stroke (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.85-2.06, P = 8.81 × 10^-125). Suggestive associations were found between genetically determined resting heart rate and higher odds of ischemic stroke (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02, P = 0.005), large-artery atherosclerotic stroke (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, P = 0.026) and cardioembolic stroke (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, P = 0.028). There was no causal association of P-wave terminal force in the precordial lead V1 (PTFVI), P-wave duration (PWD), NT-pro BNP or PR interval with ischemic stroke or any subtype.

The incidence of stroke in patients with early echocardiography after acute myocardial infarction

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) increases the risk of stroke. In our center, most echocardiograms are performed within 2 days post-STEMI. However, LV thrombi often become visible later. We assessed the 1-year incidence of stroke in patients without LV thrombus on echocardiography performed early (1-2 days) vs. later (day ≥ 3) post-STEMI. This retrospective observational study included 416 patients with acute STEMI. Patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. All patients underwent echocardiography during admission. Patients with stroke within 12 months post-STEMI were identified from the hospital charts and administrative databases. Most echocardiograms (75%) were performed ≤ 2 days post-STEMI. LV thrombus was identified in 12 patients. One (8.3%) patient with LV thrombus and 10 (2.5%) patients without LV thrombus suffered stroke within 12 months post-STEMI. Most patients with stroke had apical akinesis. Most strokes occurred during the index admission or within 67 days of STEMI. There was no significant difference in the incidence of stroke between the patients with early vs. later echocardiography post-STEMI. The incidence of stroke after STEMI is low and similar between patients with echocardiography performed early vs. later post-STEMI which supports our current clinical practice. Importantly, most strokes occur in patients without LV thrombus on early echocardiography. High reported mortality rate associated with stroke following STEMI justifies the need for further validation in prospective studies to identify patients who may benefit from repeat imaging to detect later LV thrombus formation, and how this will impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

COVID-19 and ischemic stroke

Since the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, a substantial proportion of COVID‐19 patients had documented thrombotic complications and ischemic stroke. Several mechanisms related to immune‐mediated thrombosis, the renin angiotensin system and the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 in cardiac and brain tissue may contribute to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke in patients with COVID‐19. Simultaneously, significant strains on global healthcare delivery, including ischemic stroke management, have made treatment of stroke in the setting of COVID‐19 particularly challenging. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and pathophysiology of ischemic stroke in patients with COVID‐19 to bridge the gap from bench to bedside and clinical practice during the most challenging global health crisis of the last decades.

Silent Myocardial Infarction and Subsequent Ischemic Stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that silent myocardial infarction (MI) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, we evaluated the association between silent MI and subsequent ischemic stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

METHODS

The Cardiovascular Health Study prospectively enrolled community-dwelling individuals ≥65 years of age. We included participants without prevalent stroke or baseline evidence of MI. Our exposures were silent and clinically apparent, overt MI. Silent MI was defined as new evidence of Q-wave MI, without clinical symptoms of MI, on ECGs performed during annual study visits from 1989 to 1999. The primary outcome was incident ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke subtypes: nonlacunar, lacunar, and other/unknown. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to model the association between time-varying MI status (silent, overt, or no MI) and stroke after adjustment for baseline demographics and vascular risk factors.

RESULTS

Among 4,224 participants, 362 (8.6%) had an incident silent MI, 421 (10.0%) an incident overt MI, and 377 (8.9%) an incident ischemic stroke during a median follow-up of 9.8 years. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, silent MI was independently associated with subsequent ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.21). Overt MI was associated with ischemic stroke both in the short term (HR, 80; 95% CI, 53-119) and long term (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04-2.44). In secondary analyses, the association between silent MI and stroke was limited to nonlacunar ischemic stroke (HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.36-4.22).

CONCLUSION

In a community-based sample, we found an association between silent MI and ischemic stroke.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Associated with Myocardial Infarction: Challenges and Management

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may co-occur simultaneously or in close temporal succession, with occurrence of one ischemic vascular event increasing a patient's risk for the other. Both employ time-sensitive treatments, and both benefit from expert consultation. Patients are at increased risk of stroke for up to 3 months following AMI, and aggressive treatment of AMI, including use of reperfusion therapy, decreases the risk of AIS. For patients presenting with AIS in the setting of a recent MI, treatment with alteplase, an intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, can be given, provided anterior wall myocardial involvement has been carefully evaluated. It is important for clinicians to recognize that troponin elevations can occur in the setting of AIS as well as other clinical scenarios and that this may have implications for short- and long-term mortality.

Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Ischemic Stroke: Risk Factors, Prognosis, Unresolved Problems and Possible Methods of Prevention

The present work is devoted to the analysis of modern publications on various aspects of the development and course of ischemic stroke in the presence of acute myocardial infarction. A literature search was conducted on the websites of cardiological and neurological societies, as well as on the PubMed, EMBASE, eLibrary databases using the keywords: myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, acute cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke. The authors of this review found that although stroke is a relatively rare complication of myocardial infarction, its prevention is an extremely significant task, since it is associated with high mortality, disability and a significant increase in the cost of treatment. So, it is extremely important to detect thrombosis of the left ventricular cavity in a timely manner, to register preexisting atrial fibrillation that occurs earlier or for the first time, followed by the appointment of anticoagulant therapy. Timely reperfusion treatment, the use of statins and modern dual antithrombotic therapy can reduce the risk of developing cerebrovascular accident in patients with myocardial infarction. It is likely that a decrease in the activity of subclinical inflammation after myocardial infarction will also reduce the risk of stroke, as was recently shown in the COLCOT study. Currently, it remains relevant to search for new knowledge about the risk factors for stroke, which complicated the course of myocardial infarction, which will allow developing more effective and personalized preventive measures in a patient with acute coronary syndrome.

Patients with acute myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation: association of anaemia with risk of in-hospital bleeding, stroke and other death causes

PURPOSES

To explore the association of anaemia with risk of outcomes of in-hospital patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

Patients with AF and AMI at their first hospitalizations in three hospitals (Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University and China-Japan Friendship Hospital) were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups (with vs. without anaemia) according to haemoglobin within one day before or after admission.

RESULTS

864 patients with AF and AMI (mean age:74.22 years; 39.9% female) were included in the current study. Patients with anaemia had increased risk of any bleeding (adjusted OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.43-3.68, p = 0.001), minor bleeding (adjusted OR: 2.37, 95% CI:1.40-4.01, p = 0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding (adjusted OR: 2.53, 95% CI:1.51-4.25, p < 0.001) and other death causes (adjusted OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.07-2.72, p = 0.02) compared to those without anaemia according to logistic regression. However, there was no difference in the risk of stroke or/and systematic embolism (SE) between patients with and without anaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Chinese in-hospital AMI and AF cohort, anaemia was shown to be associated with increased risk of any bleeding, minor bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding and other death causes, but not the risk of stroke or/and SE.

Efficacy and Safety of Ticagrelor vs. Clopidogrel in East Asian Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Ticagrelor improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel in East Asian patients with AMI. Between July 2013 and December 2015, patients with AMI prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Using propensity score weighting, ticagrelor was compared with clopidogrel for the primary efficacy end point (a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke) and bleeding. A total of 32,442 patients with AMI (ticagrelor: 10,057; clopidogrel: 22,385) were eligible for analysis. After propensity score weighting, ticagrelor was comparable to clopidogrel in the incidence rate of the primary efficacy end point (23.6 vs. 22.76/100 patient-years; hazard ratio (HR) 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-1.06; P = 0.513). Ticagrelor was associated with a lower risk of stroke (1.78 vs. 2.66/100 patient-years; HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.49-0.85; P = 0.002) and higher risks of overall (21.59 vs. 18.35/100 patient-years; HR 1.16; 95% CI 1.06-1.27; P = 0.002) and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2 bleeding (18.67 vs. 15.08/100 patient-years; HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.11-1.36; P < 0.001). The risks of death, MI, and BARC 3 or 5 bleeding were comparable between ticagrelor and clopidogrel. In the present study, ticagrelor was comparable to clopidogrel in the composite of death, MI, and stroke, but had an increased risk of BARC type 2 bleeding. Ticagrelor may be beneficial in preventing post-MI stroke in East Asian patients.

Tailoring the Approach to Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: A Review

Importance

One-third of ischemic strokes have no identifiable cause after standard evaluation. In 2014, researchers termed these embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) and argued that this entity would respond to anticoagulation. Two recent randomized clinical trials have not upheld this hypothesis, leading to questions about the ESUS concept.

Observations

This article proposes that ESUS remains a useful concept, the clinical effect of which can be enhanced by considering 2 subsets defined by their likelihood of responding to anticoagulation. Recent studies indicate that some ESUS cases result from subclinical atrial fibrillation, atrial cardiopathy, unrecognized myocardial infarction, patent foramen ovale, or cancer, while other cases result from nonstenosing large-artery atherosclerosis, aortic atherosclerosis, or nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies. Evidence suggests that anticoagulation will prove superior to antiplatelet therapy for cases in the first group of causative mechanisms but not those in the second group, suggesting the need for personalized therapy.

Conclusions and Relevance

Although the ESUS concept as currently constructed cannot guide treatment, efforts to better understand ESUS and develop therapies tailored to specific mechanisms are likely to help reduce the burden of stroke.

Duration of Heightened Ischemic Stroke Risk After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

The duration of heightened stroke risk after acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective cohort study using claims between 2008 and 2015 from a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥66 years. Both acute MI and ischemic stroke were ascertained using previously validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM), diagnosis codes. To exclude periprocedural strokes from percutaneous coronary intervention, we did not count strokes occurring during an acute MI hospitalization. Patients were censored at the time of ischemic stroke, death, end of Medicare coverage, or September 30, 2015. We fit Cox regression models separately for the groups with and without acute MI to examine its association with ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographics, stroke risk factors, and Charlson comorbidities. We used the corresponding survival probabilities to compute the hazard ratio in each 4‐week interval after discharge. Confidence intervals were computed using the nonparametric bootstrap method. Among 1 746 476 eligible beneficiaries, 46 182 were hospitalized for acute MI and 80 466 for ischemic stroke. After adjustment for demographics, stroke risk factors, and Charlson comorbidities, the risk of ischemic stroke was highest in the first 4 weeks after discharge from the MI hospitalization (hazard ratio: 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.3–3.2), remained elevated during weeks 5 to 8 (hazard ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–2.4) and weeks 9 to 12 (hazard ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.0), and was no longer significantly elevated afterward.

Conclusions

Acute MI is associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke that appears to extend beyond the 1‐month window that is currently considered the at‐risk period.

Trajectories of Oral Anticoagulation Adherence Among Medicare Beneficiaries Newly Diagnosed With Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Only 50% of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients recommended for oral anticoagulation (OAC) use these medications, and less than half of them adhere to OAC. In a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with AF, we identified groups of patients with similar trajectories of OAC use and adherence, and evaluated patient characteristics affecting group membership.

Methods and Results

We selected continuously enrolled Medicare Part D beneficiaries with first AF diagnosis in 2014 to 2015 (n=34 898). We calculated the proportion of days covered with OAC over the first 12 months after diagnosis and identified OAC adherence trajectories using group‐based trajectory models. We constructed multinomial logistic regression models to evaluate how demographics, system‐level factors, and clinical characteristics were associated with group membership. We identified 4 trajectories of OAC adherence: patients who never used OAC (43.8%), late OAC initiators (7.6%), early OAC discontinuers (8.9%), and continuously adherent patients (40.1%). Predictors such as sex, black race, residence in the South, or HAS‐BLED score were associated with not only OAC use, but also the timing of initiation and the likelihood of discontinuation. For example, HAS‐BLED score ≥4 was associated with a higher likelihood of not using OAC (odds ratio 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14–1.62), of late initiation (1.55; 95% CI, 1.11–2.05), and of early discontinuation (odds ratio 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01–1.84).

Conclusions

We identified 4 distinct trajectories of OAC adherence after first AF diagnosis, with <45% of newly diagnosed AF patients belonging to the trajectory group characterized by continuous OAC adherence. Trajectories were associated not only with demographic and clinical characteristics but also with regional factors.